Silkie thread!

[Adoravachick]

I am noticing that some very nice roosters have smaller crests than hens. Is this typical? My partridge rooster has a very nice crest that is larger than my hens. Some thoughts on the crest sizing from roo in comparison to hen would be much appreciated.

 

[peepblessed]

I am noticing that some very nice roosters have smaller crests than hens. Is this typical? My partridge rooster has a very nice crest that is larger than my hens. Some thoughts on the crest sizing from roo in comparison to hen would be much appreciated.

I would say it's definitely more common for a hen to have a large crest but a quality roo should have good crest.

Here is the SOP for crest.
Crest: Male - medium size, soft and full. as upright as comb will permit, having a few silky feathers streaming gracefully backwards from lower and back part of crest. Female: medium size, soft and full, globular, upright, well balanced.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Mahogany and autosomal red can add red to the feathering, and/or a male can carry a copy of gold as well as one of silver. IMO, the bird looks grey, but with added mahogany or autosomal red. Blue MAY also be present; you would have to look at the "black" feathering and see if it looks diluted or not.

Blue partridge should have NO silver, only red/gold.

So males can carry both gold and silver? WOW! So this chick would likely be a boy??

I have a Blue Partridge: (or so I think!!) (1 day old)

(2.5 months old)

that or it's a BBS genetic fluke?

Your chick is grey (silver partridge) and will likely get a lot more autosomal red. Project color Tortoiseshell or possibly Calico. See picture a couple of pages back.

which would still be a male, right?

 

[marquisella]

I'm not genetic whiz, but since hens have only 1 color gene, is it even possible to produce a "Calico" girl?
Just asking.....LOL

It looks to me that this "C alico" color is really just a bad colored silver partridge or birchen with red leakage or autosomal red.

I have a "Silver Partridge" cockerel, that has red on his back, etc. so instead of culling him, should I try to make more & call it Calico?

 

[aoxa]

Your grey isn't a Columbian, but he's really, really cute! But he looks kind of close. I had a turkey that was the sweetest thing ever and she would groom my hair. So cute when they do that. Yeah, I had shipped eggs arrive and nothing happened. It was cool out, too, so they were not cooked before they got here. Thinking it was rough handling. It's a gamble for sure. I just keep at it. But the upside is that if you had blood rings, at least you know they were fertile and starters. So the breeder was doing their job. Oh, and detached air cells doesn't mean they won't grow and hatch. I still do alright on those eggs. It does look silver. BUT.. I am seeing the gold come in... it will be interesting to see how this bird develops. My blue is darker, but is also obviously blue and not silver. I really like the silver color-- but it will look sort of "frosted" if it is indeed a silver. But here's the kicker--- from what I understand of the silver partridge, their base color is silver over partridge ground, so the leakage should be silver. And if this is gold, then it's likely a blue partridge and not silver. If I'm wrong-- hopefully Peep or SOS can correct me! ANyway-- here is a picture of a Silver Partridge (no gold):

You will be able to start to determine gender right about 4-5 months sometimes. They can start crowing around then too, but sometimes much later. I don't let mine get wet in the rain-- even as adults. They are all under covered runs. They are more susceptible to the heat, so I have misters in their pen and they are in the shade full time. If they have vaulted skulls, don't run them with other non crested breeds. They are better off by themselves. But you could safely run adults with large fowl, just keep an eye on them. I personally would not do that, but I know others do.

So this is silver partridge?

and this? Oh cool Thanks for the help!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: No. autosomal red is just that: autosomal, pertaining equally to both genders. It is not based upon the silver (gold) gene. Likewise, mahogany is autosomal.

 

[aoxa]

Your chick is grey (silver partridge) and will likely get a lot more autosomal red. Project color Tortoiseshell or possibly Calico. See picture a couple of pages back.

Either way, they are adorable. This one is a bit older now and has a very nice crest. The best vaulted skull from it's group. I had to help it hatch, it was shrink wrapped. It was touch and go. Glad I helped.. It's feet are perfectly spaced and she/he is really pretty.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'm not genetic whiz, but since hens have only 1 color gene, is it even possible to produce a "Calico" girl?
Just asking.....LOL

It looks to me that this "C alico" color is really just a bad colored silver partridge or birchen with red leakage or autosomal red.

I have a "Silver Partridge" cockerel, that has red on his back, etc. so instead of culling him, should I try to make more & call it Calico?

Well, your first statement is inaccurate. ALL chickens carry MANY colour genes. Specific to the silver/gold gene, and other sex-linked genes, yes, females carry only one copy. However, I specifically mentioned autosomal red and mahogany, both of which are not sex-linked, so the girls carry two copies also. And as dominant genes, even one copy would express. However, what is typically called calico is a bird with red in the male pattern areas. On a female the red would be predominantly on the breast: in the female colour zones.

And yes, most tortoise and calico tend to be DQ greys or splash.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Awsome! The eggs are partridge hens x mollted and splash roos. Wonder what I will hatch out?

 

[3ChickensinNC]

...you found them on the way to the grocery????

Actually he was on the other side of the road and I asked why are you crossing ?

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